Recently we ran a picture of an owl on the front of The Rocky View Weekly that evoked a strong response from readers.
Another mistake in the Nov. 16 edition of the Airdrie City View elicited a similar response when our columnist incorrectly stated that the 100th Grey Cup will be taking place Nov. 25 at B.C. Place instead of Rogers Centre in Toronto.
The outpouring of comments came swiftly and with the kind of fervour that one would expect from a riveting, emotionally-driven journalistic expose.
In the Rocky View Weekly instance, you might have even thought the response would have been about the story behind the picture itself - Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation Founder Diane Wittner’s Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award.
But if you thought that, like me, you would have been wrong.
What elicited the response from readers was the fact that in the process of writing and editing the story, the type of owl pictured was misrepresented. Rather than identifying it as a Great Horned Owl, it was called a Burrowing Owl.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all about accuracy in journalism, but I have to admit I was a little surprised by the response.
Within a day of the paper going to press, we had calls and emails from people noting the mistake and asking that a correction be made.
We quickly printed corrections, as is the policy whenever we make a mistake, but the experience got me thinking about how certain things seem to rile people up, while other issues, more important issues, don’t.
Over the course of a year we tend to write a number of stories that touch on everything from local crime and politics to charitable endeavours and fun human-interest pieces. Typically, none of those bring in reader response.
No one applauds the work that goes into the writing of a story profiling a sick person within the community who is fighting the battle of their life.
Nor do we hear much when we write informative articles about a bylaw that will affect residents in a significant way.
When we do hear from people, it is usually over minute details that really only matter to a handful of people.
Yes, facts are facts and should be correct, but on a larger scale, I hope that those same people who take the time to compose a letter about an owl or football game are also taking the time to address more serious matters.
I hope they are putting pen to paper to write to local politicians to help plead the case of the local Airdrie woman who had her sexual abuser walk free after years of torment.
I hope they are also writing to local charities like Stephen’s Backpacks, the Airdrie Food Bank and Carter’s Quest for a Cure to see how they can lend their support.
It is also my hope that these same people are finding issues not only on a local level, but worldwide ones that speak to them in the same way that the incorrect naming of an owl does.
Finding a way to use their voice for the betterment of our community, society and world as a whole.
In essence, make a difference in the lives of people, not just Great Horned Owls (though I’m sure the owl population is very thankful).
